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Janelle December 23, 2019 Leave a Comment

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Happy Friday! I have an obscure book recommendatio

Happy Friday! I have an obscure book recommendation for you! It’s unique in every which way and will not suit every reader. The book is a short story collection in the horror genre that knocked my Edgar Allen Poe socks off! Huge sigh of relief because I preemptively preordered the hardcover from @valancourtbooks and it was wholeheartedly worth every penny.

THE VALANCOURT BOOK OF WORLD HORROR STORIES (vol. 1) is a horror anthology featuring stories from all over the world. They’ve been translated into English, so horror-obsessed people like myself finally get a chance to enjoy them.

The @night_worms review team received review copies months ago, so I took my sweet time reading through it all. And while I certainly have my favorites, I think every story is at least four stars, some are five, and a couple of them are in the “all the stars” category.

#ValancourtBooks is a special, near-and-dear-to-my-heart publisher because they revive old favorites and classics complete with beautiful new cover art. It’s like finding the gold in a treasure chest of horror classics. I encourage you to check them out. I collect the Paperbacks from Hell series and every anthology they put out. I recently ordered the rest of their Christmas books to complete my collection. Okay, back to world horror!

Here are my standouts...

The Time Remaining (Hungary) Attila Veres
The Angle of Horror (Spain) Christina Fernández Cubas
Down, in their World (Romania) Flavius Ardelean
The Collector (Peru) Tanya Tynjälä
Señor Ligotti (Mexico) Bernardo Esquinca
The Bones in Her Eyes (Netherlands) Christien Boomsma
Pale Toes (Finland) Marko Hautala
Kira (South Africa) Martin Steyn
Donation (Denmark) Lars Ahn
Tiny Women (Ecuador) Solange Rodríguez Pappe
Mechanisms (Catalonia) Elisenda Solsana

Do you have a favorite anthology?! 💀👀

Thank you so much @night_worms and @Valancourtbooks for my free copy.

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#nightwormsbookparty #horrorfiction #horrorbooks #ladiesofhorrorfiction #darklybookish #horroraddict #bookaddict #bookaholic #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookblogger #amreading #bookshelf #bookshelves #library #bookishlove #bookphotography #photooftheday #shelfie #shereadswithcats

@aaknopf #partner #bookreview It’s Thursday, wh

@aaknopf #partner #bookreview

It’s Thursday, which means another day, another recommendation. #JoNesbo has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He was my gateway into the #NordicNoir world and I’ve never looked back. Of course, major props goes to Abby @crimebythebook for getting me HOOKED.

THE KINGDOM is a standalone novel that is severely dark in tone as it grapples with disturbing subject matter. Darker the better I always say! And yes, yes, it is another FIVE STAR read (so go get it, go on).

I am one of those weirdo readers that does not have to read a crime series in order if it doesn’t require it (ahem, Harry Hole). I’m all over the map on read books with Nesbo and I’m fine with it. I guess that’s why I’ve never read a dud. They are all SO fantastic!

THE KINGDOM is full of secrets, complex layers, and compelling characters. A crime fiction novel, yes, but a slow burn indeed. An intelligent, complicated family saga that will leave you thinking about it long after you’ve finished.

My top two are Jo Nesbo (duh) and Lars Kepler - who is your favorite crime fiction author? 👀🔍

Wednesdays are for FIVE STAR reads, amiright?! @c

Wednesdays are for FIVE STAR reads, amiright?!

@christopher_golden’s RED HANDS is propulsive, addictive, and well-plotted. I have not read the other two books in the series, but it didn’t make a bit of difference. Absolutely, it can be read as a standalone. Golden has a knack for writing great characters! And not only is this cover beautiful, the story in between is EXCELLENT. Highly recommended my friends! Full review to come, but it’s definitely worth a preorder! 👀 the synopsis in the comments ...

What’s your go-to genre? And what’s your favorite book within that genre?!

Thank you so much @christopher_golden for providing me with a review copy 🤘🏻
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#redhands #stmartinspress #fiction #bookstagram #bookreview #shelfie #newrelease #bookshelf #bookshelves #library #badassbookbabes #darklybookish #booksbooksbooks #currentlyreading #amreading #bookblogger #photooftheday #instalike #instagood #bookphotography #booknerd #riotgrams #momentslikethese #booksofinstagram #booksofig #coolgirlsread #shereadswithcats

Anyone interested in a FIVE STAR read? Because Wen

Anyone interested in a FIVE STAR read? Because Wendy Walker’s DON’T LOOK FOR ME is exactly what you need! Full review to come but YES, read this!

What was your last FIVE STAR read?!

Thank you so much @stmartinspress for this GORGEOUS copy!
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#dontlookforme #wendywalker #bookstagram #stmartinspress #booksandcats #fiction #thriller #booksbooksbooks #catstagram #catsofinstagram #currentlyreading #bookreview #amreading #bibliophile #booknerd #booklover #catlover #cozyvibes #bookblogger #catlife #darklybookish #catsofinsta #booksofinsta #booksofig #Shereadswithcats

Do you enjoy beautiful editions of your favorite b

Do you enjoy beautiful editions of your favorite books? Or are you like me and enjoy beautiful editions of every book? 🤣

#CanterburyClassics sent me a couple of BEAUTIES. The Robert Frost leather-bound edition has these beautiful trees on the cover, and one of their newest editions, Barack Obama Speeches, is gorgeous! I absolutely LOVE them. Thank you SO much @canterburyclassics!

Which classic do you love?!
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#canterburyclassicsambassador #beauty #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookblogger #bookshelf #bookshelves #cozyhome #library #specialedition #classics #amreading #robertfrost #poetry #barackobama #currentlyreading #badassbookbabes #coolgirlsread #shereadswithcats

🎉 Giveaway Time 🎉 The #BuddyReadsToDieFor t

🎉 Giveaway Time 🎉

The #BuddyReadsToDieFor trio is so excited for our December pick, Liz Nugent’s LITTLE CRUELTIES, that we are giving away a copy to TWO lucky winners! 🎉🎉

How to Enter:
1. Make sure you're following @wherethereadergrows @shereadswithcats and @jessicamap
2. Tag a friend in the comments (each tag counts as an entry and you can group them all into one comment!)

Extra Entries - share in your stories and make sure to tag us! 🎉

Thats it! This is an International giveaway and will end 12/4! 🎉

This is not affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram. Good luck! 🎉🎉
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#freebook #giveawaycontest #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #instagood #bookclub #booklover #allthebooks #littlecruelties #scoutpress #thriller #igreads #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booknerd #instalike #currentlyreading #wherethereadergrows #jessicamapreviews #shereadswithcats

We are LATE in posting the #BuddyReadstoDieFor Dec

We are LATE in posting the #BuddyReadstoDieFor December pick but here we are! 🎉

We are excited to be reading LITTLE CRUELTIES by LIZ NUGENT.... will you be joining us? Leave a comment below if you are and we'll add you to the chat group(s) 🎉

Synopsis: "This story begins with a funeral. One of three brothers is dead, mourned by his siblings. But which one? And how? And, most importantly: why?

William, Brian, and Luke are each born a year apart in a lower middle class Catholic family in 1960s Dublin. William, the eldest, rises to the top of the heap in the film industry as a successful movie producer. Luke, the baby of the family, surprises everyone by morphing into a worldwide pop star. Brian, the compliant middle son, is the eternal adult in the room: the helpful, steady one, the manager of finances and careers.

But none of them is actually quite what he seems. Wounded by childhood, they have betrayed one another in myriad ways, hiding behind little lies that have developed into full blown treachery. With an unnerving eye for the complexities of families, Nugent delves into the secret life of a deeply troubled household and provides stunning insights into the many forces that shape us from childhood."
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#littlecruelties #liznugent #gallerybooks #scoutpress #groupread #buddyread #thriller #decemberbook #bookstagram #bookclub #bookaddict #bookaholic #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #booksofig #amreading #currentlyreading #wherethereadergrows #jessicamap #shereadswithcats

It’s Small Business Saturday! It’s a day to ap

It’s Small Business Saturday! It’s a day to appreciate the businesses we love so much! But if you think about it, we should make this effort every time we shop ✨

There are a ton of books in this photo that I purchased from independent publishers. I wouldn’t have so many gorgeous books without them ✨

If you can, make the effort to buy local or shop small because it matters. Especially now ✨

I posted a bunch of shops in my Insta stories that you should check out! There is something for everyone, and may I just say, I love all the pretty things ✨

Here are some independent bookstores
& publishers I love...

@goldsborobooks @librofm @rubysfolsom @bookshopsc @awaywithwordsbooks @suntupeditions
@cemeterydancepub @sstpublications @pspublishinguk @undertow_books @quirkbooks @milkweed_books @coffeehouse @catapult @greymatterpress @clashbooks @counterpointpress @twodollarradio @tin_house @europaeditions @rdspress @subpress @corpuspress @bloodshotbooks @valancourtbooks @crystal_lake_publishing @pmmpublishing @lividianpub @beneathhell_publishing @silvershamrockpublishing @softskullpress #ThunderstormBooks @deathsheadpress #GrindhousePress

What’s your indie favorite?! ✨

🍂🍂 THANKFUL 🍂🍂 Hey everyone! I just w

🍂🍂 THANKFUL 🍂🍂

Hey everyone! I just want you all to know I’m thankful for every one of you. Whatever you are doing today, just know you are loved!

I am currently hanging out in my parent’s backyard. Just look at these fall colors! Oh my, it’s beautiful! 🍂

How was your day?! Are you doing okay?

Much love 🍂🍂🍂

Tagged publishers #partner ✨ What’s a better

Tagged publishers #partner ✨

What’s a better way to celebrate Christmas than posting #giftideas on Thanksgiving eve, HA!

Illustrated editions of the first three books of @georgerrmartin’s #GameofThrones series, which are absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

THE LOOK OF THE BOOK by Peter Mendelsund is dedicated to the art and design of book covers - oh and it’s spectacularly GORGEOUS.

Also, we have @officiallymcconaughey’s GREENLIGHTS, which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend (alright, alright, alright). AND a FIVE star read, Jo Nesbo’s THE KINGDOM . #CrimeFiction at its best (psst...it’s AMAZING).

OAKFLAT by @laurenredniss’s has beautiful colorful illustrations (it’s a stunner!) AND @heatherclarkauthor’s RED COMET is all about #SylviaPlath (one of my favs) - I’m drooling over this BRICK of a book. ALSO, @naominovik’s A DEADLY EDUCATION has me intrigued! Has anyone read it?!

THE OFFICE OF HISTORICAL CORRECTIONS by Danielle Evans is a fun story collection! And HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD by @vankolken’s looks FASCINATING - I’ll be starting it tonight for @spookishmommy’s #truecrime #bookclub #bookishtruecrime 👀

The always lovely @michelleobama’s and her memoir BECOMING. Spoiler alert: it’s OUTSTANDING.

Now comes my most anticipated book of the year, @barackobama’s A PROMISED LAND. I’m not going to gush, but let me just say he’s one of my heroes. And I don’t mean the fictional, perfect hero. I mean, his intelligence and compassion cannot be measured which overlook any flaws he might have. Plus, he’s cool. He’s an exemplary human being, as is Michelle. I just started reading his #memoir and, of course, it’s excellent!

🎶 These are a few of my favorite things 🎶 Sp

🎶 These are a few of my favorite things 🎶 Special thanks to the tagged publishers #partner

Is there anything better than book mail?! Books always make me happy 🥸

What are your plans for the long weekend? And according to everyone in the world, Christmas is here 😂
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#bookmail #bookstagram #amreading #currentlyreading #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #bookporn #bookshelf #bookpic #riotgrams #booklover #bookaholic #books #bookaddict #photooftheday #horrorbooks #fiction #nonfiction #bibliophile #reader #readersofig #booksofig #igreads #shereadswithcats

GIVEAWAY CLOSED ‼️ ANNOUNCEMENT ✨ @Riverhead

GIVEAWAY CLOSED ‼️ ANNOUNCEMENT ✨
@RiverheadBooks #partner #TargetStyle #TargetBookClub #Readalong ✨

I fell in love with @lizmoorebooks’s LONG BRIGHT RIVER when I received it as a galley last year: I simply could not let it go, and it’s been on my mind ever since. I was so thrilled when @RiverheadBooks asked me to partner with them for the 12/1 paperback release and for it being the @Target Book Club December pick! I’m inviting you guys to read along (or re-read along) with me and stay tuned for an exciting book club discussion. ✨

TO ENTER:

To kick this book club off, we’re giving away Target special edition paperbacks to 5(!) lucky winners. All you have to do to enter is tag a friend you’d share this suspenseful & phenomenal book with AND tell me what your favorite reading snack is - that’s it ✨

Here is a blurb from my #bookreview last year:

“I cannot get this novel out of my head. In fact, I became anxious just writing this review. Moore’s writing is atmospheric, visceral, and ominous. She writes in such a way that you feel the story and know the characters. The novel is almost 500 pages long but it reads amazingly fast. LONG BRIGHT RIVER is not only exceptionally written, it’s also an uncomfortably honest story that will break your heart.” ✨

Happy Sunday & Thanksgiving week! What are you mos

Happy Sunday & Thanksgiving week! What are you most thankful for? I’m thankful for all of YOU and the delicious food I get to eat come Thursday. I’m a stuffing gal myself 👀

Here are a mix of books I want to read and one I’ve already read (a new favorite 🙌🏻). There are several for #NonfictionNovember such as WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE, DARK ARCHIVES, SAPIENS ( #currentlyreading ), and IF YOU TELL (thanks to @natashaniezgoda 😘).

There are SO many amazing books to read! I want to read them all right now 😂
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#bookstack #booksbooksbooks #ladiesofhorrorfiction #bookshelf #riotgrams #badassbookbabes #bookstagram #bookreview #bookphotography #bookaholic #bookaddict #booklover #booksofig #booksofinstagram #instabooks #instalike #bookstagramfeature #photooftheday #sundayvibes #shereadswithcats

Happy Friday! We made it to the weekend *whew*. To

Happy Friday! We made it to the weekend *whew*. Tomorrow, Marcus and I are headed to Apple Hill for our annual trip of apple donuts and beer. I inhale those donuts. This year we live a bit closer, in the same county actually, which is so cool!

What are your weekend plans?!

Okay, now for some book talk! I am more than pleased to feature a series I’ve grown to absolutely LOVE. I love fantasy, but I am VERY picky, and @kuangrf has knocked my socks off! THE POPPY WAR trilogy is powerful, dark, and beautifully written - all things I look for in a good series. The final conclusion is THE BURNING GOD and it’s finally out in the wild! Although you better hurry because I just saw some bookstores including @amazon are out of stock. Yikes!

If you haven’t picked this series up yet, my advice is, simply put, DO IT. I’ll leave THE POPPY WAR synopsis in the comments *spoiler free zone for THE BURNING GOD* 🔥🔥🔥

Thank you so very much to @tlcbooktours and @harpervoyagerus for my free copy.

@simonandschuster #partner #BookReview #NightWorms

@simonandschuster #partner #BookReview #NightWormsBookParty #TillerPress

VIDEO PALACE: IN SEARCH OF THE EYELESS MAN by Maynard Wills is a spectacular anthology which all feature the urban legend, the Eyeless Man. Dr. Wills was intrigued by the horror podcast of the the same name, #VideoPalace, which is produced by @shudder. I had no idea such amazingness existed, so of course, I subscribed.

The Eyeless Man is the stuff of nightmares because he feeds off of everything we are as a society. We are all addicted to watching the screen and a slave to our obsessions which is exactly what the Eyeless Man is looking for. He is the ultimate frightening dark figure with no eyes! Eek!

I am a big fan of lost footage horror, urban legends, spooks, myths, and folklore. Actually, I just watched the movie V/H/S and the documentary, Beware the Slender Man; I was completely mesmerized. Anyway back to business: every story contains journal entries of interactions with the mysterious creepy figure and the legend of the esoteric “white tapes” and what might’ve happened in the aftermath.

Wills managed to bring together a fantastic group of screenwriters who all wrote their own take on the Slenderman-like figure. My standouts are Doorways of the Soul by Owl Goingback, Brea Grants’ A Texas Teen Story, The Satanic Schoolgirls by Meirav Devash and Eddie McNamara, and Deep Focus by Bob DeRosa.

VIDEO PALACE is creepy, but not terribly scary. It’s more of a fun horror movie experience, but not “real life horror” if that makes sense. Bottom-line though, I enjoyed it very much.

What’s your favorite urban legend?! 🙀

Wednesdays are for #BOOKMAIL - Thank you so much t

Wednesdays are for #BOOKMAIL - Thank you so much to the tagged publishers #partner

I’m super excited for several of these books! PLUS I have been waiting for @barackobama’s book since the minute it was announced and it’s finally here. 😭 I’ve heard he might publish five volumes (yes please 🤞🏻). I am jumping up and down with glee!

Which book are you most excited for?!

#BookReview WYRD AND OTHER DERELICTIONS by @adaml

#BookReview

WYRD AND OTHER DERELICTIONS by @adamlgnevill is unique, experimental, and majorly creepy. Seven stories are written in an amazing and strange way. Adam Nevill is an exceptional writer and this collection just proves it even more.

In every story the reader is plopped into the aftermath of a terrible event. It’s like looking through the eyes of a stranger for a short while. You are not privy to what caused the event, you just study the surroundings. It’s terrifying. You get the eerie sense that something is missing, ruined, or destroyed. The atmospheric language creates crystal clear imagery and stories I will never forget. Adam’s writing style is, I guess one might say, wordy, but I loved it. Words are my thing, but you have to know how to use them. And Adam is a truly gifted wordsmith.

My top stories are Hippocampus, Wyrd, and Hold the World in my Arms for Three Days. This is a very slim book, but do not let the size fool you as this is not a fast read. Adam’s prose is lyrical, beautiful, exquisitely disturbing, and intelligent. I took my time with this book and it helped me enjoy it that much more. There are no characters or a specific plot, but Adam somehow pulls it off. My advice is to start with the afterward because it gives context to what Adam’s intention is with the collection. It’s truly genius, bizarre, unsettling, speculative horror and I ate it up!

Thank you so much @adamlgnevill this gorgeous special edition. Special thanks to the @night_worms for the #NightWormsBookParty - always a pleasure. Xx

What’s the strangest book you’ve ever read? But in a good way!

✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ Throwback to right before th

✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨

Throwback to right before the pandemic. Remember those days? I cannot wait to get this beast under control ✌🏻

For the first time in a long time I’m going to brunch! I love brunch, mainly because I love breakfast food, but I’m not a morning person. I’m hopeful that one day I’ll be like David Bowie and discover morning 😂

What are you up to today?
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#sundayfunday #sundayvibes #reader #readersofinstagram #readersofig #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookblogger #outdoorphotography #bookpic #booknerd #horrornerd #bookaholic #bibliophile #bookcommunity #amreading #currentlyreading #murderino #readingtime #bookaddict #booklover #shereadswithcats

✨ MINI REVIEW ✨ Happy Friday the 13th! Happy

✨ MINI REVIEW ✨

Happy Friday the 13th! Happy #NonfictionNovember and Happy Weekend!

DEMONIC FOES by Richard Gallagher M.D. is a chilling book with several different true accounts of demonic possession. Gallagher uses science, delves into the supernatural, and works alongside the Catholic Church. Now, I read everything with skepticism, but I don’t have any reason to doubt the content. And it appears Gallagher believes what he wrote, he has quite the resume, and I have an open mind. Also, I find possession totally fascinating. A perfect book for a rainy #Fridaythe13th 😈

Thank you @tlcbooktours and @harperonebooks for my free copy.

What are you reading this weekend?!
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#promotehorror #harperone #nonfiction #murderino #mfm #horror #truecrime #horrornerd #booknerd #bookstagram #bookreview #bibliophile #bookshelf #horrorgeek #amreading #currentlyreading #riotgrams #booksharks #horrorbooks #bookphoto #booksbooksbooks #shereadswithcats

✨ THURSDAY VIBES ✨ I’m not sure if any of y

✨ THURSDAY VIBES ✨

I’m not sure if any of you all know that I get a million migraines a year. At least that’s how it feels lately. Today I finally got my migraine shots (yay me!). Because of the move I forgot and was late (booo!🤦🏼‍♀️). I’ve never been so excited to get shots in my life 😂

Books! Books! Books! I love all the books! What’s the last book that WOW’d you???

#bookshelf #bookstagram #library #readingtime #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #bookphotography #bookblogger #booklover #booknerd #readersofig #booksofig #amreading #booksbooksbooks #currentlyreading #bibliophile #promotehorror #bookadventure #bookaholic #nonfictionnovember #shereadswithcats

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